Amir Khan and Kell Brook became embroiled in a bitter verbal war on Thursday, which finished with Khan promising on national television to fight the Brit if Brook beats Timothy Bradley.

Khan and Brook have long been linked to an all-British war, but the former has always considered the latter to be leagues beneath him. That remains the case.

"I used to box Kell all around the ring," Khan told Sky Sports Ringside. "That's the honest truth, I was at England camp..."

"You got schooled," interrupted Brook.

"Come on, I never got schooled," Khan laughed. "I was training for the Olympic Games, Kell was in the juniors, and I used to school Kell in the ring."

With both men becoming increasingly irate, a tense atmosphere descended as Audley Harrison sat between the warring pugilists. And it was Khan's taunt about being on a different level that sparked the most heated exchange.

"The fans want it, it's a fight the fans want to see. I'm going to move up to 147 very soon, and then I'll be in the mix," Khan said.

"I still think I'm a league above but if I have to step back a league to knock him out, I might have to do that. I think he's bitter about the treatment he got in sparring."

Brook, who was largely overwhelmed in the talking department, argued: "I'd knock him out. He gets knocked out every time without a doubt. You can't hold a shot."

At that stage Khan rattled off names that he has either faced, or tried to fight, before accusing Brook of ducking them. Khan then promised that he will sign a contract to fight Brook as soon as he beats Bradley - the WBO welterweight champion - in a yet-to-be-arranged bout.